Lake Lure

[GrierHPharmD]

You might want to try Lake James. There were houses, barns and such back when the power company flooded it. I think that was during the 30's or 40's.
I know several of the local instructors do checkout dives there, plus it might be closer for you.
Abaco...

Sounds interesting. I'll look into it. Thanks for the tip.

I guess I'm just always looking for new and different dive sites. In FL it's been caverns, wrecks, reefs, pier cleanups. In NC it's been quarries and, this season, historical wrecks. I even liked diving Lake Norman as part of our local club's work with Raft Up, a charity even where several hundred boats tie up and try to break the Guiness record. (The Charlotte Hammerheads help them find their permanent mooring lines. ~40 ft depths, <2 ft viz, warm water. A great time, despite challenging conditions.) Lakes with manmade structures are pretty interesting to me...

-G

 

[GrierHPharmD]

The locals call it Lake Sewer, instead of Lake Lure, is vis is pitiful, and you have to get a special permit from the town to dive. I heard it is like a $50 permit. You can not have a boat on the lake without a special permit too. Very deep and cold lake. I will try to find some more info. I live 30 mins away.

Thanks in advance. It's funny - I've heard mixed reviews about that lake, but they all agree about the cold and poor viz aspects. On the lighter side (no pun intended), there's a small general store on the road between the lake and Chimney Rock that has a little "dive shop" in the corner. Very old masks, regs, knives, etc. I seem to remember seeing a double-hose regulator (Aqualung) there a couple of years ago. No info on diving, and I'm sure they don't sell much, if any, dive equipment. Still, it was an interesting, random find during a road trip.

-G

 

[DeputyDan]

Lake James is so cold that many of the fish species that inhabit the lake are unusual for the south - - i.e. Northern Pike

 

[fishguts]

Lake Adger in Polk County is home to Musky and Wallye. Lake Lure does have a Trout population, but you have to troll deep for them.

 

[CapeFear]

I have not dove Lake Lure, but I have been in Jordan and Mayo. I did several SAR dives in Jordan for hunters and fishermen who have lost items overboard. The vis in Jordan is about 1-2' on a good day. The water is the color of tea and I only found the items because they marked the spot and I have a UW metal detector. My father and I drove all over Jordan before it was filled and I dont recall any buildings that were intact. Just stumps!!

Mayo on the other hand has great vis for a lake. I have had 30' in the winter and it is better up towards the dam. Summer is 10-20'. I dove it for the same reasons, money!There are tobacco barns and other buildings there, but I personally would not go into them as they may callapse on you. You could pick up a map locally at a bait shop that will show bottom features and buildings. As a side note, there are some very big game fish, bass, crappie, sunfish and catfish. I would say this is your best bet for a lake and nobody dives it that I know of.
Hope this helps.
Mike

 

[GrierHPharmD]

Thanks for the info. I've never been to Lake Mayo. Maybe we can get some divers to go out and do some exploration of a virgin body of water.

I agree with your comment about penetration of the old buildings. I've heard some horror stories about building explorations.

Thanks again,
Grier

 

[Charlie J]

Sounds like Mayo might be fun - what kind of temps in summer?

 

[Mrs.Prages]

This sounds like an adventure in the making. I would love to tag along for something like this. Maybe we should bring it up for one of the wreckmaniacs adventure logs.

IF only we could figure out a way to strap all of aur gear to our motorcycles to make the adventure complete.

 

[divad]

This sounds like an adventure in the making. I would love to tag along for something like this. Maybe we should bring it up for one of the wreckmaniacs adventure logs.

IF only we could figure out a way to strap all of aur gear to our motorcycles to make the adventure complete.

They have motorcycle trailers for people like you.

 

[Mrs.Prages]

That would be way too responsible for me.